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Malaysian Works Minister Alexander Nanta Linggi said that the Malaysian government is planning to allow the use of credit and debits cards at the Causeway and Tuas checkpoints in the future.

No Touch

The Straits Times reported that Nanta said the Malaysian government was considering this, but the expected date of implementation would be around Sep. 2024 due to technical complexities involving different Malaysian agencies.

This would be a change from the current situation, where those driving to Malaysia would need to have proprietary payment cards, known as Touch'N'Go cards, in order to pay tolls when making the crossing

Nanta also said to the Straits Times that visitors to Malaysia would soon be able to pay tolls on Malaysia's highways with Visa and Mastercard debit and credit cards, instead of Touch'N'Go cards.

This comes after Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said at a town hall meeting with Malaysian youth that his government would reconsider Touch'N'Go's monopoly on highway toll collection earlier in March 2023, according to Free Malaysia Today.

Government to review Touch 'n Go's monopoly - PM Anwar pic.twitter.com/MoIHmDUyA6

— BERNAMA TV 🇲🇾 (@BernamaTV) March 20, 2023

Anwar said that the system lacked significant improvement and development despite having been in operation for nearly 20 years, and that the government would need to reconsider it.

His statement was met with cheers from the crowd, showing how that there was little love lost between the 5,000-strong audience and the payment system.

Third quarter 2024

According to the New Straits Times, the Malaysian government quickly responded, with Transport Minister Anthony Loke saying that his ministry had been instructed to create an open payment system application for all agencies under its purview.

Nanta added that by Sep. 2023, five federal highways in Malaysia would be implementing the open payment system, with the rest to implement it by the third quarter of 2024, in line with his prediction for Malaysian-Singapore border crossings.

This is the first step towards a barrier-free, multi-lane system where drivers will be automatically charged without having to stop at a toll booth.

It will likely come as a relief to many Singaporeans, especially after the unpleasant experience of their Touch'N'Go cards expiring in the two years that border crossings were restricted due to the pandemic.

The situation was compounded due to card shortages in Malaysia, as Malaysian motorists were also returning to interstate highway travel after several years of restrictions.

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Top image via Getty